US Air Hubs Reject Homeland Security Video Faulting Democratic Party for Federal Closure

A number of key international airports across the United States, among them Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have decided to block a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democratic lawmakers for the current government closure from airing at their checkpoint areas.

Regulatory Concerns Raised by Airport Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to display the footage at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids government workers from engaging in partisan actions.

“Democrats in Congress decline to support funding for the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our functions are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are unpaid,” Noem stated in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Response

The Portland airport authority clarified that it “would not agree to airing the PSA in its present version, as we believe the federal law explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for political aims.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this video would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

The Harry Reid airport also declined to display the TSA video on comparable reasons, stating in a release that “its content included partisan statements that did not align with the neutral, educational purpose of the PSAs usually shown at security checkpoints” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that prohibits partisan actions by government employees to ensure that public services remain non-partisan.

Additional Airport Rejections

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “refused to post the PSA” to remain “consistent with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, also refused, citing “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that North Carolina municipal law and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not allow the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the TSA does not own any monitors at its checkpoints and that its limited display monitors are designated for directions, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

The county, in a public comment, called the PSA “unacceptable, improper, and out of line with the values we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a government closure on security operations,” the county executive stated, adding that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes customer confidence.”

DHS Response

A DHS official, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s wording to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will soon recognize the significance of reopening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the federal closure” and was striving to identify ways to assist federal employees unpaid during the closure.